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New leadership, same goal for Hardeeville

Hardeeville lost last season’s SCHSL Class A Division II Lower State final 36-20 to eventual state champion Scott’s Branch.

The Hurricanes have also lost an accomplished group of seniors, seven of which played together for seven years. Hardeeville coach Blake Raley coached the group at West Hardeeville Middle School and throughout high school, when Hardeeville High opened in 2007.

Raley has a simple approach as he faces his first season without that class.

“We still have the same goals,” Raley said. “We want to go undefeated, win the region, and win the state. Nothing’s changed except how we get there and the people who get us there.”

Senior Charlie Morrison-Ford is expected to be one of those who will get them there. On the Hurricanes’ last play against Scott’s Branch, Morrison-Ford ran 57 yards for a touchdown. The Hurricanes are counting on him to pick up where he left off. After carrying the ball sparingly in Hardeeville’s power running game last year, Morrison-Ford leads a group of running backs being counted on to bring a new dimension to the attack: speed.

“We have an exciting group with a lot of potential,” Raley said.

As one of the Hurricanes’ unquestioned leaders, Morrison-Ford will see some time at quarterback. However, Raley hopes to have sophomore Paul Habersham either share time or outright take the starting spot.

“We want to move Charlie around,” Raley said. “We’re not going to waste his talent by having him hand the ball off.”

Another leader for this year’s Hurricanes will be senior Dominique Riley. At tight end, he led the Hurricanes in receiving. Riley made the most impact, however, on defense. At middle linebacker, Riley recorded 160 tackles and made all-state.

“He’s not budging from that position,” Raley said.

Last season, Riley recorded double-digit tackles in all 13 games. He made 16 in the regular-season finale at rival Ridgeland and in the Lower State final. Riley also stood out in the Hurricanes’ first win of the season after a 0-3 start. In a 36-8 victory at Whale Branch in September, Riley made 10 tackles, forced a fumble, intercepted one pass and blocked another. He also caught a 54-yard touchdown. Against Estill, in a 28-24 home win, Riley made 15 tackles and recovered two fumbles.

Senior Landon Johnson is also a leader. After starting for three years at left guard, Johnson will anchor the offensive line at left tackle. Last year, he was part of the line that paved the way for the Hurricanes’ power rushing attack that averaged 208 rushing yards a game. This year, he will lead a line in transition.

“That’s our biggest challenge,” Raley said. “We need a good rotation in that line so we utilize our speed in the backfield.”

Johnson also starts at defensive tackle. Johnson’s best all-around game last season may have been the home win against Estill. He helped pave the way for 299 yards rushing. Johnson forced a fumble and defensed a pass.

Raley singled out one other player as a leader on the team: Primos Life. As a junior last year, Life was injured in the region jamboree in August and missed the entire season. As a senior, he is expected to take Johnson’s old spot at left guard. Life will also see action on defense on the line, at linebacker, and in the secondary. Raley expects versatility on his defense, and Life will be one of those players.

“Football is still football,” Raley said. “We still play in the toughest single-A region in the state, and I’m going to prepare the same way.”